The former coach, known for a short fuse and often successful, always brief stints with franchises, says players should approach the NHL lockout practically, even if it means taking less money over the long haul.

Mike Keenan, 63, last coached in 2009 and hopes to get another job. (AP Photo)

"I remember working with Jeremy Roenick last year on the TV set and he turned to me and said, ‘You can never recover the money.’ I said, ‘Absolutely, you are right.’ A guy like Jarome Iginla is going to wake up one day very soon and his career is going to be over," Keenan told Toronto's 590 The Fan (via Sports Radio Inteviews).

"You can never make that money. I understand, but there’s a real pragmatic, practical part of me that where I come from, and my background, and what you can really garner from your situation."

Keenan, of course, was behind the bench with the St. Louis Blues for the lockout-shortened 1994-95 and between teams in 2004-05. He said he wouldn't be surprised to see the entire 2012-13 season canceled. The league wiped out games through Nov. 30 on Friday, and the chief issue remains how—or if—owners honor existing contracts while dropping players' share of hockey-related revenues from 57 percent to 50 percent.

"The fact of the matter is this is a stalemate right now" Keenan said. "I don’t think it’s going to be resolved anytime soon. I think there is a lot of danger in the aspect of we will lose this season.”

The 63-year-old last coached in 2008-09 with the Calgary Flames. He was fired after two seasons—and two first-round eliminations—and wants another shot, citing the success of Jim Leyland with the Detroit Tigers as proof that he's still capable. It's worth noting that Leyland is a nice guy who's beloved by his players, and Keenan falls somewhere south of that, but whatever.

"You’ve got a manager that’s well into his 60s, so that’s a doable situation," Keenan said, "It’s a circle of the coaching paternity and sometimes you’re in it and sometimes you’re not and we’ll see what happens.”

In 1,386 career games, Keenan is 672-531-147-36, including a Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994.